Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Mobile Police Station vehicles continued their countryside services on March 4 in Ngororero District where residents commended the force for distinguished services rendered to remote-based communities.

About 100 residents of Nyange sector queued up at the Mobile Police Station Vehicle where they presented their grievances to officers, who in turn recorded them for further investigation.

Sylvain Murayirage, 43, a farmer and resident of Nyarusange, said in an interview that she never expected to receive justice until she heard that the service had been extended to the neighbourhood.

“I had a dispute with my father and he destroyed the house I was living in saying that it was built on his land. I had nowhere to report him because the police station is far away. Today, police recorded my case and am convinced that justice will be served,” said Murayirage.

Another resident, Anicet Nduwayezu, 42, said he was violently attacked by his sister, who cut him with a machete.

“Today, Police listened to my side of the story about my sister’s violent conduct towards me. They have assured me that this will be followed up closely. This is a service that is very useful and I thank Police for introducing it,” said Nduwayezu.

The Western Province Police Spokesperson, Superintendent Emmanuel Hitayezu, called upon residents to utilise the services and report each injustice they face and also provide useful information in crime-prevention, to police.

“Most of the complaints that residents presented were about asset ownership, family wrangles, theft, poor services from local leaders, gender based violence, family neglect, and many others. We shall work with other government authorities to ensure that each one of them gets justice,” Supt. Hitayezu said.

The service is particularly extended to citizens residing or working in places located far away from Police stations, whereby, a mobile vehicle treks through the terrain searching for those wishing to make complaints or to report injustices committed against them.

The mobile station, which currently has three vehicles, has so far received over 300 cases since it started in January.

The cases that Police remains with are those within its mandate to investigate, while the rest are channeled to relevant institutions such as the judiciary and local leaders, where residents can get further assistance.

Another very notable service that these vehicles are providing is education and sensitisation to residents on matters pertaining their rights and freedoms and where to report particular complaints they may be having.

Police partners with other institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, in order to efficiently serve all residents regardless of the type of their complaints.